131 replies to this topic

[Curley]

I've known I wanted a dedicated track day Mini for quite a while now. Having grown older and built a few Minis I came very close with my current Mini. However the roll cage in that 'race' car is about to age out causing me to consider my options. Do i replace the cage in the current car or do I look to build a new car?

 

We could go down the Appendix K route of the Mk1 but real Mk1's are becoming increasingly expensive. Ready 2 Race cars can be purchased form the likes of Swiftune for ~£50K. I wanted the fun of building one myself. I already have an investment in parts from the existing car so decided to strip that and rebuild it into a new body. I sat down with the Mini Miglia regs and the 'blue book' and started looking for a donors.

 

I knew I wanted a saloon and I've always liked the rear lights of the Mk2/3 and the older gutter profile of the <Mk3 so started to look online. One day in January 2018 I found this on eBay... a 1971 Bronze Yellow 850 ...most of the possible donors were either too nice, too complete ready for OE restorations or so far gone they had trees growing out of them. 

 

 

The story went that it was a family car. They purchased it new and was well loved by the original owner. Then one day in the late 80's the son decided he was going to restore the car, lost most the bits and shoved it in the corner of the family MOT business. Now 25 years later it's been uncovered and offered for sale. So figured it was a good candidate and placed a bid...

 

... then it arrived It was worse than I thought. The front end had been fitted very very badly! loads of filler in the scuttle panel to bridge the gaps. The doors had been re-skinned badly and the rear quarters had been repaired by a beaver and a stick welder.  On the plus side the floors looked good, it had the original 850 engine, most of the interior, original gauge, steering wheel and petrol tank. All original 850 running gear and factory front and rear subframes.

 

Next step is to strip the donor down, work out what can be saved, what can be restored and what needs to be replace...

Edited by Curley, 07 February 2019 - 01:52 AM.

[Curley]

The Heritage Certificate confirmed the factory specs as a 1971 850 in Bronze Yellow with navy blue interior and would have looked something like this...

 

 

... while many people would throw an early MK1 style grill & overriders on it, a set of Minilite wheels and a respray I've come to quite like the Bronze Yellow and will try to keep it as stock as possible. On the outside.

Edited by Curley, 17 December 2018 - 11:23 PM.

[minimissions]

I would build it as a close to original car as possible Mk3 minis are probably some of the rarest minis left now, and a 71 would be great to keep original colour and spec etc. Maybe some nice period mods but keeping as much mk3 there as possible.

 

That's my personal view, but its your little mini and your build! Looking forward to seeing some progress..

[Minigman]

It’s got to be bronze yellow and original as possible. But with some stealth performance!

[rich_959]

I love a Mk3, especially in Bronze. 

[CAU998]

Awesome, I really look forward to reading your updates!

[Minigman]

The Heritage Certificate confirmed the factory specs as a 1971 850 in Bronze Yellow with navy blue interior and would have looked something like this...






... while many people would throw an early MK1 style grill & overriders on it, a set of Minilite wheels and a respray I've come to quite like the Bronze Yellow and will try to keep it as stock as possible. On the outside.

Except I think that’s a sandglow mk4 Curley

Edited by Minigman, 18 December 2018 - 03:19 PM.

[Wiggy]

That colour is absolutely fantastic. Mk3's just look so right.

[Minigman]

Check your messages Curley, please ?

[Curley]

Happy new year TMF! It's been a busy January and this project is making good progress. At the start of the year the body went off for rust repair. Unfortunately the rot was worse than I had hoped for and it had had three too many bodged repairs so this was all that was left before being sent out for media blasting 

 

 

Yes, some would say I could saved what was there and if I had the time or space I would have but when you're paying someone else to do the work it is often more economical to cut our the entire panel and start again...

 

 

In the end we replaced both inner wings, the heel board, both rear quarters, a rear section, entire floor assembly inc boot floor, rear arches, waist rails, scuttle, A-panels & various other closing panels.

 

Next steps are to rebuild the subframes and fit the flip front.

Edited by Curley, 07 February 2019 - 01:54 AM.

[stumpy75]

Love this will be doing similaire to my own mk 3

[Archived3]

What a transformation!

[CAU998]

Great update! This looks like it’s going to be excellent when it’s finished!

[johnR]

looking good - what engine do you have in mind for it?

[Curley]

looking good - what engine do you have in mind for it?

 

I wanted a KAD 16v but after talking through the cost I decided to spend the money on rust repair and the safety cage. In the end I went for an engine built by my good friends at Classic & Modern Engine Services in Bracknell, Berkshire.

 

A+ 1275 block

21253, +40. High Compression Pistons

Standard A+ Conrods

ARP Rod Bolts

Modified Crank

Centre Main Strap

SW10 Cam (I might change this for a SW23 later)

Swiftune Simplex Timing Chain

Heavily worked MPI casting head with 36x31 valves on 10.5:1 compression

1.5 Ratio Rockers

ARP Head Studs

Guessworks 6 Piece SCCR 4 Speed, X-Pin Dif

5/16 Gear Box Gasket

SC 1:1 Drop Gears

KAD SC 3.9 FD

 

Edited by Curley, 07 February 2019 - 02:02 AM.